The Official CHRONORADIO Thread

I thought I'd set up a thread here to keep tabs on "ChronoRadio: The Star Wars Continuity Buff's Internet Radio Show" for those interested.

For those who haven't heard of it, the show is a bi-monthly production by the creator of the Star Wars Timeline Gold and several audio dramas over at http://www.starwarz.com/timeline that is meant to fill in part of the gaps left in fan audio by the loss of both JediTalk and Digital Llama Radio. Thus, it serves both the regular Star Wars Literature/EU community and the Star Wars Fan Film community.

At present, 30 episodes are available, all in downloadble MP3s (encased in ZIP files) that are all available around the clock (without any episode swapping to save bandwidth at this point).

The show is divided into several styles:

--Regular Episodes

The regular episodes are released on a bi-monthly basis and are numbered in whole numbers. The most recent, Episode IX: Games and Tokens, was released in June, focusing on the impact of the video games on the continuity and the aspects of racism (perceived and/or real) in the saga. These regular episodes also include mailbag segments, brief publishing news segments, info from Q&A sessions with LucaaBooks people, and the occasional guest co-host.

--Supplemental Editions

These episodes, numbered with a ".5" on the end, are released sometimes between regular episodes and generally cover topics that Star Wars fans might find of interest, but which may not be directly Star Wars-related. These have included looks at other big Sci-Fi sequels, franchises, and the so-called "Dark Horse Rant"* in Episode VII.V: My Show Runneth Over.

--Special Editions

The Special Editions come in two forms. The first is a kind of one-topic dedicated episode, such as "The Canon Question," a look at the levels of officiality in Star Wars, based on (and discussed with) LucasBooks folks for quotes.

--Serial Editions

These are episodes that take the form of enhanced audiobooks of original Star Wars short stories, with the only devitaiton from audiobook form being the use of several different voice actors for dialogue segrments. At present, the first trilogy of these, entitled "Parallels" is available.

--Interview Editions

These episodes feature one-on-one (usually) interviews with big names from the fan film or fan communities and actual authors of Star Wars materials. They have included interviews with subjects like Kevin Rubio, Walter Jon Williams, Bill Smith, Will Brooker, Chris Hanel, and Michael Beidler.

---

Each even-numbered month sees a new regular episode, while the odd numbered months mark a new relase of the Star Wars Timeline Gold, one of the two big fan chronologies on the net (and the only one, thus far, to be able to stand next to TimeTales in thoroughness).

I'll utilize this thread to include info on new releases and keep it confined here.

If intersted, you can check out the show at:

http://www.starwarz.com/timeline/chronoradio/

 

In response to Ep 9 of Chronoradio:

You mentioned that people could recognized toolofsatan.com as a satirical site is giving some folks too much credit. Have you ever seen www.chick.com? You probably have seen some of their tracts. They are typically black and white, newsprint, and hardcore. I figured that toolofsatan was made by them. I was going to email you about the site being a joke, but I think I scrapped it because you do check up on your stuff.

Race: In the SW universe, races are referred to species. Not "nationality." To me, Jar Jar seemed more like a cross between Scooby and Shaggy. He's always eating, you can't understand a freakin word he's saying, and look at the way he walks! If that isn't Shaggy, I don't know what is. And besides, "Ebonics?" The misuse of a pre-existing language doesn't constitute the creation of a new one. But if Lucas was being racist about the Gungans, and this is such a bad thing, then we did they play such an integral part in the Battle of Naboo? If it wasn't for them, the attack never would've been successful. And if Lucas is really saying, Gungans are officially representative of people of color, then what is he saying at the Gungan's sacred place? The Naboo have been ripping on these guys for so long that it has caused major riffs in the political system of the planet, so much that one doesn't care about the other. But to save them all, they have to come and ask for help, realizing that the Gungans bring so much to the table, and they were totally misjudged. It makes me think that they are to be respected, not judged by one representative, and that we should ignore any differences. If he wanted them to look bad, why did they have seemingly more advanced technology than anyone else on the planet? Underwater cities, living with giant monsters.

The Neomodians: A take-off to the old Japanese bad guys? Yes. But no one seems to have a problem with the Jedi acting like Samurai, the GOOD GUYS of Japan. Maybe he's cracking on the Japanese being the most technologically advanced people on our globe. The produce more computers than anyone, and yet they were taken down by a bunch of nature (Gungans & Jedi), art (Naboo) lovers and a kid that just wants a Turbo Man doll.

Whatto: Jewish. Ok, so he owned a shop. That's good. He's an entrepreneur. And is apparently very good at it. He worked hard and finally has his own place. And slaves. WHA?!?!? A Jewish person, who isn't enslaved, but owns a couple! How does that fit in? Explain that to me. I don?t' see it. He sounded more Russian, or German to me. Or like DMX. "Y'all, eh, gonna maka me loose my mind, up in here, eh." I mean, what Jewish stereotypes are there with Whatto? (I don't believe these, these are just the ones that are shown on network television) Cheap: I don't see it. I think he drives a bargain, and won't take useless credits. Ever try to go into McDonald's and use a Euro to pay for something? (Which makes me ask if Qui-Gon should've gotten some dark force points for trying to essentially steal the parts for the ship). And he has a big nose. But you know what they say about guys with big noses. Blessed, are the big noses.

What about Jabba and fat people? What about the Token Green guy. Yoda.

I think Lucas chose some races to represent characters unintentionally. We, as moviegoers, are so transfixed on finding hidden meanings in everything. We are going to listen to something, and apply it to whatever we can in our minds. We have to relate everything to something otherwise we are scared. That's why people are terrified of extraterrestrial, or the deep sea. We don't know what's out there, so we fear it. We hear an accent or a dialect, and we automatically affix it to something that is known. That's why the Aborigines in Australia were automatically thought of as being less evolved than the white "discoverers" that found them. They looked like monkeys. Why? They were short and dark and didn't live in "sophisticated buildings" or use technology. I image i

 

Okay, so I'm not making a fan audio, I'm not even here for audio purposes, I just didn't know we had an audio forum. Cool beans!
I guess I got to post in the first week of existence

-Matt

 

Rich: We ought to send you up to the University of Michican.

Matt: Good to have another audio listener around.

News: Looks like August's CR #10 is in the can. Pretty "dense" episode. Lots of topics, very concise and "pithy." Condensed into just under 2 hours.

 

Yeah. Pithy is good.

Chris

 

One of these times, I'm gonna end it with:

"Name and town, name and town, name and town if you wish to opine.

"Now, how 'bout that website?"

::wonders how many just got that::

 

Guess no one did.

Bill O'Reilly? The end of The O'Reilly Factor?

Am I the only news geek?

Anyway, good CR news: I just did the interview with Dan Wallace last night. It'll be up probably at the end of this week, even though CR #10's "recap" doesn't mention it. Nothing I can do about that now, though, as CR #10 is "wrapped."

 

Well, it was meant to be released tomorrow, not today, but an uploading foul-up on my end required some crafty re-uploading of key ChronoRadio pages.

So, in the wake of that, I'll release it early and save myself some trouble.

Ladies and gents, the Dan Wallace Interview Edition is now available.

 

LOL. I'm a news geek. When I can get it on my portable radio, I listen to the talk radio station at work. But there's always this funny high pitched whining sound. But that's what happens when your radio's cheap and you're surrounded by computers all day.

But hey, if you gotta suffer to hear the high priest of the Church of the Painful Truth, that dude with talent on loan from God, and all during those hazy, hot, and humid Hannity months of summer, well then it's worth the sacrifice of ringing ears.

I think that about proves my geekiness right there. Yup.

Chris

 

Great interview. I love hearing about a fan making it big in the official world.

 

Sitting here in AL Capone's Valut with my Stacked and Packed Calender, wearing my No Boundries tie, trying to plot a course form Coast to Coast to get to the Black Advengers Cave.

Now go take on the day, Pithy enough ? <g>

Joe

 

No, no, is to pithy

 

It's early because my poor computer has to go into the shop to get its built-in monitor fixed, but hey, that's good news since the episode is out early

ChronoRadio #10: The Lost Episodes, featuring guests Kevin Furman and Lou Tambone, is now available on the ChronoRadio website at:


http://www.starwarz.com/timeline/chronoradio/

 

Cool thing: There might be, as Michael Potts once referred to the idea, two editions of, basically, ChronoVideo, rather than Radio, coming out of Dragon*Con this year. We may be oraganizing the Fan Audio panel around a ChronoRadio format to allow some direction and such, and Michael Smith and I have discussed doing some form of ChronoVideo episode together just before Dragon*Con as well.

No, this won't be a habit.

Meanwhile, work has already begun on CR #11, which is up to about 35 minutes of runtime, with a new episode-specific theme to commemorate Rich Sigfrit's appearance and a new intro clip for the commentary segment, at least for this episode.

 

If we can pull of both of the ChronoVideo epiosdes its got the poential of being really good.

And with the use of Sorenson Squeeze Compression Suite, I'll be able to keep the file size down to something reasonable.

 

What types of things can video offer to ChronoRadio that audio can't provide? I mean if you're just going to sit in front of the camera and talk, it's not worth the added download time. If you have other, more visual stuff planned, then it sounds like a great idea.

 

Well, I was thinking something short for the 2 person thing, but the other would actually be the Dragon*Con panel.

 

I mean if you're just going to sit in front of the camera and talk, it's not worth the added download time.

Well, people sit on the couch and enjoy watching the news all the time. How is that any different. ?

 

They don't have to download it. They watch it real time, and don't have to wait. if there is nothing happening visually besides looking at someone sitting, I'd rather just listen.

 

My hope is that the panel itself will make a worthy episode, for those who can't be there, and that perhaps the "second" episode can be more like me and Michael doing quick bookends for the one.

Sorta depends. I don't intend on making a habit of video, though, as I entirely agree with what Rich and Kurt said above.

 

Even if it was just two people talking into a camera for 20 minutes, it would be worth the download in my opinion. It would make it even more similar to a television news program. Also, I think the panel would draw pleanty of people. A couple of my friends had to pull out of Dragon*Con at the last minute, and I am sure they would be eager to see this.

Just wanted to say I recently stumbled upon Chrono Radio and I am loving every second of it. Keep up the great work Nathan.

 

Thanks. It's been a fun year of shows. I'm wondering what's next for the show in terms of expansion. Perhaps once stuff's back calmed down after the Fanworks launch, I'll be able to do some work on a new Serial Edition or something. Or perhaps have a contest where people can submit short fiction like the Parallels stories I did and get their project turned into a Serial Edition.

 

Fan submissions sounds cool. Give people a chance to get their little audio dramas to the masses.

 

That may be the best way to go, then, I agree. Especially if it's done like Parallels, where it's not a full-fledged audio drama, but an "enhanced audiobook."

I think I'll announce a contest or something for that in CR #11 in October.

 

Sounds good. Maybe I will get my FanForce to make a submission, we are always eager to do something with our time.